The Ancient Silk Road is undoubtedly one of the most worthy places to visit in China. It was once a very busy thoroughfare for merchants, in spite of being an incredibly tough journey to make. Along the road, there were once many beautiful counties and towns. However, all of these glorious historical sites have been buried by the desert. Nowadays all we can find are some relics scattered along the sides of the disappearing road.

There are also several yardangs (ridges or crests of rock formed by severe wind) near the road. They are unbelievable looking, both fantastic and almost alien in appearance. If you come to this region then be sure not to miss them!

It is difficult to visit all of these relics since they are all in the desert. We strongly advise that you do not venture out into the desert to visit them alone, not only because of the language barrier but predominantly because the transportation in this area is unreliable and problematic. Some of these relics cannot be reached via public transportation. Hiring a professional guide with an in-depth knowledge of the history and geography of this area is crucial and a necessity if you wish to get the most out of your trip to the Silk Road.